Your Quote: "It's also not clear to me at all that Win8-based tablets are gaining any mindshare. It's all about iPad, or to a lesser extent Android tablets on the lower end of the pricing scale. "
I share your unease. The only positive sign is the reaction to Surface Pro which was sold out the first day. Unfortunately consumers do take to a new brand or device overnight. Pentium brand did not sell for almost a year. The iPad's first year sales were sluggish, and Android tablets did not sell at all for almost a year. It will take a large amount of advertising to establish the new tablets.Taiwanese brands have better products than Microsoft tablets, but are not engaging in any sales promotion activities.
But what is most discouraging about Windows 8 is the fact that it has alienated its existing Windows 7 user base. I hate Windows 8 in its present incarnation. Hopefully Windows Blue will rectify some of its problems. I rather use my Windows 7 clunker or my iMac rather than my brand new Windows 8. Windows 8 is now in a "no mans" land. It does not have consumer mind share for tablets as yet, and it has walked away from its traditional client user base.
Market Data 
Markets 
AI
